18+ Flow Chart Templates

A flowchart is a diagram form representing a cycle or workflow. It can also be defined as an algorithm’s diagram representation, a step-by-step approach to solving a task. Flowcharts are used to break down a task into smaller ones for better management and organization. Flow chart templates make the process of building flowcharts easier.

7 Steps to Make a Flow Chart

Step 1: Use MS Word or MS Excel

To make a flowchart, it is always advised to use a Microsoft office application. Even though all three MS Office apps such as MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint, have available options for making flowcharts, it is advised to use Word. Word is more user-friendly and powerful than others. You can make any kind of flowchart with this such as a marketing flowchart, business flowchart, etc.

Step 2: Insert a Canvas

Once you have opened MS Word, you can start creating the flowchart. The first step is to insert a canvas. Flowcharts in Word are better preserved in a Drawing Canvas. A canvas functions as a shaped vessel, rendering a flowchart in a document simpler to place or re-position. If you want, you can also add shapes directly to the document.

Step 3: Provide a Shape

The next step involves adding or inserting shapes into the canvas. This step is very simple. To add shapes you have to select the shapes icon on the Insert tab in the document. From the dropdown menu, you can choose any shape you like and it can also be more than one type. Then drag and drop it on the canvas. If required, you can also resize the shapes.

Step 4: Display a Grid

You can choose not to follow this step however, it has been strongly advised that you choose a grid to be displayed. Grids allow you to design forms to match widths and heights, as well as make aligning forms simpler when you have to edit the flowchart or even move stuff around. To enable the grid you have to click on the View tab and select the Gridlines check box.

Step 5: Insert the Text

Before starting to make the flowchart you have to establish why you are making the flowchart. The objective or objectives will be required here. In this step, you need to insert the required text to the shapes you have already added to the canvas. To start typing, all you have to do is click on the shape.

Step 6: Insert Connector Arrows

Connectors differ from simple arrows because when they are shifted, they remain attached to the given shapes. To insert such arrows, you have select the shapes icon and then choose the type of line you want from the dropdown menu. Then you have to move the cursor to the shape. When little dots appear, you can click on them and drag the cursor to the next shape. You will have a connecting arrow.

Step 7: Insert Labels

Not every flowchart requires this but if you want you can add labels to the branches next to the connecting arrows. To do this you have to select the textbox symbol in the shapes gallery. A textbox will appear which you will have to select to type in the necessary text. Later you can also edit or format the text as needed.